Map - The Greek world during the Greco-Persian Wars (ca. 500Ė479 BC).576 viewsThe first Persian invasion of Greece, during the Persian Wars, began in 492 BCE, and ended with the decisive Athenian victory at the Battle of Marathon in 490 BCE. The invasion, consisting of two distinct campaigns, was ordered by the Persian king Darius I primarily in order to punish the city-states of Athens and Eretria. These cities had supported the cities of Ionia during their revolt against Persian rule, thus incurring the wrath of Darius. Darius also saw the opportunity to extend his empire into Europe, and to secure its western frontier.
The first campaign in 492 BCE, led by Mardonius, re-subjugated Thrace and forced Macedon to become a client kingdom of Persia. However, further progress was prevented when Mardonius's fleet was wrecked in a storm off the coast of Mount Athos. The following year, having demonstrated his intentions, Darius sent ambassadors to all parts of Greece, demanding their submission. He received it from almost all of them, except Athens and Sparta, both of whom executed the ambassadors. With Athens still defiant, and Sparta now effectively at war with him, Darius ordered a further military campaign for the following year.
The second campaign, in 490 BCE, was under the command of Datis and Artaphernes. The expedition headed first to the island Naxos, which it captured and burnt. It then island-hopped between the rest of the Cycladic Islands, annexing each into the Persian empire. Reaching Greece, the expedition landed at Eretria, which it besieged, and after a brief time, captured. Eretria was razed and its citizens enslaved. Finally, the task force headed to Attica, landing at Marathon, en route for Athens. There, it was met by a smaller Athenian army, which nevertheless proceeded to win a remarkable victory at the Battle of Marathon.
This defeat prevented the successful conclusion of the campaign, and the task force returned to Asia. Nevertheless, the expedition had fulfilled most of its aims, punishing Naxos and Eretria, and bringing much of the Aegean under Persian rule. The unfinished business from this campaign led Darius to prepare for a much larger invasion of Greece, to firmly subjugate it, and to punish Athens and Sparta. However, internal strife within the empire delayed this expedition, and Darius then died of old age. It was thus left to his son Xerxes I to lead the second Persian invasion of Greece, beginning in 480 BCE

Map - Attica and Megaris526 viewsAttica and Megaris from Maps, plans, views and coins illustrative of the travels of Anacharsis the Younger in Greece, during the middle of the fourth century before the Christian era

Map - Illyricum Province of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire356 viewsIllyricum Province of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. Illyricum was a Roman province that existed between 167 BC and 10 AD, named after conquered Illyria, stretching from the Drin river (in modern north Albania) to Istria (Croatia) in the west and to the Sava river (Bosnia and Herzegovina) in the north. Salona (near modern Split in Croatia) functioned as its capital. The province was then divided into Pannonia in the north and Dalmatia in the south.

Map of the central regions of ancient Greece429 viewsMap of the central regions of Ancient Greece

Map - The Athenian Empire at its Height 450 BC497 views

Map - The Battle Of Salamis 480 B.C.321 viewsThe Battle of Salamis was organized by Themisotcles who believed that the Athenian fleets were the "wooden walls" the oracle spoke of in order to defeat the Persians. During this battle King Xeres sat in a golden throne watching his fleets lose the battle. A famous quote from Xeres during this battle was "My men have become women, and women men." He exclaimed this because Queen Artemisia of Halicarnassus, a Greek who was fighting for the Persians, rammed a Persian ship in order to escape.

Map - 400 AD The Roman Province of Macedonia338 viewsMap of Macedonia and Greece c. 400 AD, showing the administrative division into dioceses and provinces, as well as the major cities.

Map - Ancient City of Athens291 views

Map - Ancient Greece323 views

Map - Ancient Greece and her Colonies283 views

Map - Ancient Greece and her Colonies272 views

Map - Ancient Northern Greece265 views

Map - Ancient Peloponnesos285 views

Map - Ancient Vindelicia and Illyricum258 views

Map - Epirus and surrounding areas in the 4th century BC417 views

Map - Plan of the Antiquities of Athens240 views

Map - Miletus Bay361 viewsMap in English showing the silting evolution of Miletus Bay due to the alluvium brought by the Maeander River during Antiquity. Are also displayed some of the modern cities and towns of the area, the current course of the Maeander River and the current shoreline.

Map - Mycenaean Greece, Egypt, Mesopotamia, etc. 1450 BC 451 viewsThe period of Mycenaean Greece ran from about 1600-1100 B.C. and ended with the Greek Dark Age. This is the period described in Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. At the end of the Mycenaean period, writing was abandoned.